Gilas Pilipinas will have their hands full in Window 4 of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. And it’s not just because they’ll likely be missing the services of Justin Brownlee. It has more to do with the quality of opposition the national team will be facing, starting with Jordan on Friday, August 28, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Falcons Are Ready to Soar With Jalen Harris
Jordan has traditionally been one of the best teams in the Middle East. In fact, the Falcons have been strong recently, earning a stint at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and netting a silver‑medal finish in the Hangzhou Asian Games to underscore their standing as one of the continent’s better squads.
What makes this Jordan team particularly dangerous is their leader and best player, Jalen Harris. The US‑born 28‑year‑old is the Falcons’ naturalized player, and he appears to be as good as—if not better than—the reinforcement he replaced, Rondae Hollis‑Jefferson.
The 6‑foot‑4 guard has arguably been the best player of these qualifiers, leading the tournament in scoring at 27.0 per game across six outings, five of which are wins. But Harris isn’t just a chucker, as he is scoring at a prolific rate with scary efficiency—49.5% shooting overall, 45.3% from downtown, and 90.0% from the charity stripe.
With his combination of size, skill, shiftiness, and shooting acumen, expect Harris to be the biggest headache for Tim Cone and Gilas Pilipinas.
Jordan Has a Big 3
While Harris figures to be the main man again for Jordan, he’ll still have plenty of helping hands to keep the Gilas Pilipinas defense honest and guessing. Two players, in particular, who could pose problems for Cone and his squad are big man Ahmad Al Dwairi and point guard Freddy Ibrahim.
The 6‑foot‑11 Al Dwairi has put up 12.2 points, 7.8 boards, and 2.5 assists per game in these qualifiers while proving to be a reliable force in the interior. The 6‑foot‑2 Ibrahim, who is averaging 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in the tournament, is no stranger to Filipino hoops fans as he is one of Asia’s steadiest playmakers. He also tallied 16 points and 8 assists when Jordan edged Gilas, 91‑90, in their 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers meeting at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Together, Harris, Al Dwairi, and Ibrahim form the Falcons’ talented big three, and they are likely to test Gilas Pilipinas in different ways—Harris with his explosive three‑level scoring, Al Dwairi with his inside presence, and Ibrahim with his heady playmaking. Beyond those three, Gilas Pilipinas should also be wary of 6‑foot‑8 forward Saif Al‑Deen (9.3 points, 6.0 rebounds) and backup guard Amin Abu Hawwas (8.5 points, 2.0 rebounds), as both can step up when the defense loads up on Jordan’s three top guns.
Gilas Meets Jordan
Gilas Pilipinas will test the mettle of Jordan on Friday, August 28, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in a virtual must‑win. The Falcons currently boast a 5‑1 record, which is tied with Iran for second best in Group E. The Philippines carries a 2‑4 slate and sits fifth in the group.
